Chapter 148
“No matter what rumors are spreading outside, no matter what the papers are saying—it’s not the truth. And I’m perfectly fine. Not a single scratch.”
She insisted stubbornly.
He looked at her with an unreadable expression, like he was staring at something that existed outside the bounds of understanding. After a long, tense silence, he slowly nodded.
“I see. If you’re really that okay… then that’s a relief.”
“This is all because you showed up without telling me… If I’d known, I could’ve at least prepared myself. I had no idea you’d arrive today.”
“My business in the south wrapped up sooner than expected. Though I’ll have to go back to Linden in four days.”
Vanessa blinked at him, eyes wide, staring blankly. She tried to act unaffected, but she couldn’t quite hide the hollow feeling that settled in her chest.
“…Four days? That soon?”
He nodded as if it were nothing and rose from the bed. The motion of opening the cigar box by the desk, taking out a cigarette, and brushing it against his lower lip came naturally like an unconscious habit.
His hand, searching for a match as if he were about to light it, suddenly stilled. With a faint irritation, he brushed his disheveled hair back from his forehead.
“There are still a few things I need to take care of.”
“That’s… disappointing. It’s such a short visit. Actually, I have plans tomorrow too.”
If it were anything else, she could’ve postponed or canceled.
But this was an appointment with Benjamin Dawson. And not just that, he was bringing along an important figure, someone he referred to as “the painter.”
Dawson had gone to great lengths to persuade a man who didn’t even want to show up. If this meeting fell through, there was no telling when or if it could be arranged again. So, the priority was obvious.
“I’ll come back as soon as things in Linden are settled.”
“…How long do you think that’ll take?”
“Hard to say. About ten days, maybe? There are a few complications tangled up.”
Vanessa narrowed her eyes as she looked at him.
Did River Ross think this summer would last forever? By then, it would already be the last week of August. Considering that soldiers on extended leave had to return by the first week of September, the time they had left together was… almost gone.
Summer was ending. She felt a faint pang of regret for once promising herself she wouldn’t cling to him. Maybe she shouldn’t have made that bet.
Maybe she should’ve asked just calmly, to extend their arrangement into autumn… no, even until next spring.
She let out a quiet sigh. It was pointless thinking about it now.
If anything, perhaps it was better this way. With everything going on with her uncle, she didn’t have the capacity to worry about him too…
“And when that’s done, Vanessa—”
His voice cut cleanly through her spiraling thoughts. River Ross’s expression held something rare.
Something serious. Almost rigid. His striking blue eyes caught her gaze in an instant. She was momentarily captivated by them.
“When that time comes, I have something to tell you.”
* * *
The Welder Tea House had no redeeming qualities other than being quiet.
Inside the cramped shop, worn, grimy tables were packed tightly together. At the bar, an old man snored loudly—there weren’t even any other customers.
Vanessa took a seat by the dust-streaked window and ordered a glass of lemonade. Just as the uneasy thought crept in—What if this isn’t the right place?—the bell on the door jingled.
“Vanessa. You’re already here.”
Benjamin Dawson approached her, accompanied by a man with his hat pulled low over his face. The damp scent of summer rain clung heavily to their clothes.
“A sudden downpour delayed us. Have you been waiting long?”
“I’m fine. But I don’t have much time as I mentioned before. A maid is coming to pick me up in thirty minutes.”
“Then we’d better not waste any time. This is Mr. Jack Wiltshire, the head of Moretz Investment Company.”
“Mr. Wiltshire, thank you for coming. I’m Vanessa Siren Somerset.”
Vanessa said with a polite smile, extending her hand like a lady. A faint smile flickered across the pale man’s face as he looked at her.
“Actually… this isn’t our first meeting, Lady Vanessa. I saw you once when you came along with your father, long ago.”
“Did you?”
“I used to carry you on my shoulders back then.”
As he recalled the past, the man let out a deep sigh.
“If not for that memory… I wouldn’t have agreed to involve myself in something like this.”
His eyes darted anxiously around the room, as if he expected someone to burst in at any moment, gun in hand.
